How To Make Pretzel Cheese

Which Beers Make The Best Cheese Sauce For Pretzels

There are a few beers that I feel make the best cheese sauce for pretzels and bread. One of them is using Guinness beer for cheese dip. With Guinness cheese dip, youll have a rich, cheesy dipping sauce every time.

My other favorite beers are the German beers, especially the Oktoberfest beers. They are often labeled as Festbiers and Amber Marzen beers, readily available in September and October and often throughout the year. You will love the German beer cheese dip that comes from these varieties of beer.

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Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe

There are essentially two parts to this recipe. Soft Pretzel Bites. Cheese Dip. And both are AMAZING!

The pretzel bites come together quickly No need to let the dough rise for hours on end. Just 10 minutes is all it takes and then youre ready to assemble. Knead the dough, roll it and cut into bite sized bits.

The key here is in the baking soda bath. Before baking, the bites are dipped into a bath of baking soda and water, for a quick 20-second swim. Then, theyre spread out onto prepared baking sheets and baked for 10-15 minutes. In those last few minutes of baking, that deep golden color really develops and then you realize I made pretzels!

Sprinkle them with a bit of salt, or everything bagel seasoning, and youre in for a treat!

Im going to be snacking on these all fall! Theyre the perfect tailgating snack.

Also Lets not forget the glorious pretzel cheese dip. One taste and you will NEVER forget it Trust me!

Ooey, gooey, creamy, cheesy sauce that coats those pretzel bites in the best way possible. And boy, did it ever. I < 3 < 3 < 3 this pretzel cheese dip. Its the perfect consistency, doesnt clump up at all, and is super easy to reheat.

Homemade Soft Pretzels With Cheese Dip

Homemade Soft Pretzels recipe made with pantry ingredients & SO delicious! Step-by-step instructions for how to make soft pretzels and an easy cheese sauce to dip!

Making soft pretzels at home is easier than you may think! While the cheese sauce for pretzels is delicious, its an optional addition that you could easily omit if you wanted to enjoy the pretzels plain. No matter how you choose to serve them up, these homemade pretzels are sure to be a hit with everyone.

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How To Make Cheese Sauce For Pretzels

MELT. Add butter to skillet and melt over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour on top of the butter and cook for 1 minute, constantly stirring. It should form a thick paste. Then whisk in the milk until slightly thickened.

STIR. Remove from heat and slowly begin to mix in the shredded cheese until smooth. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste. If you need to thicken it down a bit, add a few Tablespoons of warm milk.

STORE. Pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

Faq For Homemade Soft Pretzels

Can I replace instant yeast with active dry?Yes. If you only have active dry yeast, it works as a 1:1 sub in the recipe. However you will need to activate it. Bring the milk to a lukewarm temperature, then add the sugar and the yeast. Leave for 10-15 minutes until it gets foamy, then add the rest of the ingredients and continue with the recipe.

What is Bread flour?Bread flour is flour with a higher percentage of protein. If you are in NZ or the UK it is ‘high grade flour’ or ‘strong flour’. These soft pretzels can be made with all-purpose flour if it is all you have on hand.

What is pretzel salt?Pretzel salt is a coarse salt – it is opaque , so it gives a textural crunch. You can use a fine coarse salt too if you can’t find pretzel salt

Can Cheese dip for pretzels be made ahead?Yes – you can make it up to a few days ahead and store in the fridge. Re-warm when needed. If you have extra leftover, it is great as the filling for these cheese buns!

How to do you store pretzels?Pretzels are best eaten on the day that they are made, but you can store pretzels lightly covered at room temperature. Re-warm before you eat them. If you are planning on making some to eat later than the day you make them, leave off the salt so that they don’t go soggy.

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Soft Pretzel Bites With Cheese Sauce

Soft pretzel bites with cheese sauce This is it! The #1 homemade version of soft mall-like pretzel bites and cheese sauce out there!

I am a complete sucker for mall pretzels.

And its a darn good thing that youll only find me at the mall once or twice a year because more trips would definitely equal more pretzels. But as much as I love them, I dont make soft pretzels at home too often because Kyle isnt a huge fan .

However, in all the years since I first made them, theres been one recipe Ive been saving.

And I finally decided to bust it out just in time to share it with you while youre all getting crazy planning your Super Bowl party menus.

For the record, well both be watching movies this Sunday, as is our annual tradition, while the rest of the nation is either watching the Super Bowl or waiting for the commercials .

So this soft pretzel bites with cheese sauce recipe isnt any big secret! In fact, its probably the most widely adored one out there but if you havent made it yet, you need to get.on.it. Like now!

Try not to be intimidated by making these homemade soft pretzel bites either, because this recipe is practically fool-proof!

I not only halved the recipe , but I also refrigerated the dough overnight after the rise . I let the dough come back to room temperature for about 2 hours before using it.

And let me tell you, these soft pretzel bites turned out like a dream!

I was floating through mall pretzel heaven!!

Why Is This Recipe In Grams

I post my recipes in grams as it is the most accurate way to bake. Cups are not only inaccurate but they vary in volume worldwide. There is no way for me to provide one cup measure that works for everyone. However, posting in weight fixes this issue. If you would like the recipe in cups you are welcome to convert it yourself via google, but please do not ask me to do it for you as I am not comfortable providing a recipe using a method that I have not tested. Baking with a scale is easy, accurate, and also makes cleanup super simple. Here is the scale that I use if you would like a recommendation! Heres to accurate baking!

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How To Make Homemade Pretzels

Now we get to use those kindergarten play-doh skills. Roll each biscuit into a rope, about 12-15 inches long. Then, fold the rope into a pretzel shape, as shown, pinching the overlapping pieces together.

Place these on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours. You dont need to cover it, just put it in the freezer like this.

Now, if you dont want to make these right away, after that 1 to 2-hour freezing time, remove them from the parchment paper, place them in a zipper seal freezer bag, and return them to the freezer until you want to make your pretzels.

Bring to a boil about 3 to 4 cups of water in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the baking soda. It will foam up and then go clear again and that is how you know youre ready.

Popping the pretzels in this baking soda bath before baking is going to help them brown fully without having to cook for very long, which allows the inside texture to be nice and chewy.

Drop the pretzels, one at a time, into boiling water and let boil for just one minute, no longer. Remove with tongs and put back onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle pretzels with coarse sea salt.

Bake these at 450 for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Oh my, look at those beauties!

How To Make Easy Beer Cheese Dip

You can make this beer cheese dip recipe many ways, over a campfire or fire pit, on the grill for a cookout, on the stovetop or in the oven even! So many options so little time!

If using a campfire or fire pit, place a grate over the fire. In a 10 or 12 cast-iron skillet , add cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic, chives and beer be sure to season with a little cayenne and salt.

• Add shredded cheese
• then cream cheese
• and garlic to skillet

I loved making this easy beer cheese dip on our fire pit actually, I just borrowed a grate from our grill and it worked like a charm! The image below is right before I placed the foil on top.

Cover with foil or with a heat safe lid if you have one, take a peek every now and then stirring to combine.

The picture on the right is making this same pretzel cheese dip on our grill, with burners at about medium, which was about 400 degrees.

• Cover skillet with foil
• Stir occasionally until smooth

Once all the cheeses are melted, stir or whisk well to combine until smooth, a few little lumps are just fine. Garnish with extra chives if desired.

If you want the top to have a little browned cheese, place 5-6 inches below broiler for 1 -2 minutes, watching closely! It will brown quickly.

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Seriously The Best Pretzel Cheese Dip

This pretzel cheese dip is such a fun and easy appetizer! All you need is to pair with your favorite soft pretzel and youre off and dipping into one of our favorite cheesy apps.

Whether youre whipping this up for the next game day, or just serving as a fun appetizer or side for the fam, this pretzel cheese dip will not disappoint!

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How To Use Lye Safely:

Lye is a caustic material, meaning if used improperly, it can cause chemical burns. Before you freak out, check out the safety tips below, and also remember that lye in this recipes application is diluted and therefore is similar to household bleach. Once lye is baked, its totally safe to eat.

• Only use in a well-vented controlled area. You dont want to do this in a small space without a window open or the fan on .
• Always add lye to water, never water to lye. The idea is to avoid any potential for splashing.
• Use only heat-resistant plastic or glass containers to prepare your lye bath. Never use metal.
• If lye does touch your clothes, remove that clothing item. If it touches your skin, simply run the skin under water for a few minutes.
• If youre concerned about safety, use plastic gloves when handling the pretzels in the lye bath. For extra security, feel free to wear goggles and even a face mask .

How to prepare a lye bath for pretzels:

How to prepare a baking soda bath :

For baking soda bath:

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How To Make Cheese Stuffed Soft Pretzels:

Start by making the dough. In a large bowl, dissolve instant yeast in warm water until its nice and bubbly. Then add in the sugar, salt, and b utter and stir it all together.

Add in the flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition as you go. If the dough is still sticky after the listed amount of flour, then add in more flour 1 Tablespoon at a time, until the dough is no longer sticky.

Knead the dough for another 3 minutes, then form it into a ball. Stick the dough into a new clean bowl, greased with oil or non stick spray. Cover the dough with a towel and place it in a warm area to let the dough rise for about 30 minutes.

Once the dough is ready you will cut it into 24 even pieces. I usually cut it into 8 pieces then cut those each into thirds. Flatten each section with your hands and put a cheese block into the middle. Wrap the ends of the section around the cheese block and pinch them together. Then roll the dough ball as evenly as you can to smooth it out.

Boil some water with baking soda, and drop the pretzels one at a time into the hot water. . Remove the pretzels with a slotted spoon so the excess water will drip back into the pan, and transfer the pretzels onto a prepared baking sheet.

Sprinkle the tops of each of them with coarse sea salt. Bake until the pretzels are a nice golden brown color. Let the pretzels cool for about 2 minutes, then enjoy warm while the cheese is still gooey.

How To Make Cheese Sauce For Pretzels:

• First, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

• Second, whisk in the flour and keep whisking for about a minute until a thick paste forms.

• Next, gradually add the milk and whisk. Let this mixture cook uncovered until it has thickend.

• Now, remove from heat and add the cheese and salt.

• Whisk this all together, stirring constantly, until the cheese has completely melted and the mixture is smooth.

The cheese sauce is best served right away with your favorite soft pretzels or soft pretzel Bites.

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A Note On Salt And Oven Temperature

It is important to note the type of salt that is called for in a recipe. I use Diamond Crystal salt throughout my recipes – if you use a different sort of kosher salt or regular table salt you will need to adjust accordingly as some salt is ‘saltier’ than others. Morton’s salt is twice as salty, so you will need half the quantity. Same goes for a regular table salt. I am working to get gram measurements throughout my recipes for salt but still getting there.

All oven temperatures are conventional unless otherwise stated. If you are baking on fan / convection, you will need to adjust the temperature. An oven thermometer is a great investment to ensure that your oven is the correct temperature.

How To Make Homemade Cheese Sauce For Pretzels

When you are ready to make homemade cheese sauce for pretzels or your favorite finger foods, follow these easy instructions:

• First, in a medium saucepan set over medium heat, melt the butter until it becomes bubbly. Once bubbles form, whisk in the flour for about 1 minute or until it has a pasty consistency. Make sure you dont let it change color, so keep an eye on it as you whisk.

• When the butter forms a paste, slowly whisk in the milk until no lumps of flour remain. Stirring constantly, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens, which will be about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Next, remove the pan from the stove and stir in the shredded cheese until all the cheese has melted.
• Finally, add a pinch of salt, if needed, and a pinch ground cayenne or red pepper. You can skip this step if you prefer less salt or no heat.
• Last but not least, serve warm and enjoy!

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How To Make Pretzel Bites With Mustard Cheese Sauce

Made from store-bought pizza dough, these chewy pretzel bites are baked to perfection for toasty snacks that go best with rich mustard sauce.

15 minutes

• 1½tbsphoney mustard,such as Frenchs
• 2cupscheddar cheese,shredded

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What Youll Need To Make Beer Cheese Dip For Pretzels

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• Slow cooker to keep the beer cheese dip warm

In addition to these tools, youre going to need a few ingredients to make Pretzel Cheese Dip, as well.

• Beeryour favorite drinking one that doesnt have additional flavor added
• Sharp cheddar cheeseyou could also use a different blend of cheese, though I encourage you to shred your own because it will melt more easily.
• Soft pretzels, for servingyou can make your own or you can find these in the freezer section of the grocery store

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